Resource Planning
In project management terms, resources are anything used to complete the work of the project. We often think of resources as human resources, but project resources can include raw materials, equipment, facilities, or even travel. This chapter will look at how to define and estimate the cost of resources for a project with an emphasis on human resources. Pay attention to the techniques for managing resources and resource leveling techniques.
Resource Planning
In the previous wedding case study, it is clear that Steve and Susan have resource problems. Getting a handle on all of the tasks that have to be done is a great start, but it's not enough to know the tasks and the order they come in. Before you can put the final schedule together, you need to know who is going to do each job, and the things they need so they can do it.
"We've got so much to do! Invitations, catering, music… and I've got no idea who's going to do it all. I'm totally overwhelmed". From this statement it is clear that Susan is worried about human resources. In comparison, Steve realizes that not all resources are people: "And it's not just people. We need food, flowers, a cake, a sound system, and a venue. How do we get a handle on this?"
Resources are people, equipment, place, money, or anything else that you need in order to do all of the activities that you planned for. Every activity in your activity list needs to have resources assigned to it. Before you can assign resources to your project, you need to know their availability. Resource availability includes information about what resources you can use on your project, when they're available to you, and the conditions of their availability. Don't forget that some resources, like consultants or training rooms, have to be scheduled in advance, and they might only be available at certain times. You'll need to know this before you can finish planning your project. If you are starting to plan in January, a June wedding is harder to plan than one in December, because the wedding halls are all booked up in advance. That is clearly a resource constraint. You'll also need the activity list that you created earlier, and you'll need to know how your organization typically handles resources. Once you've got a handle on these things, you're set for resource estimation.
Source: Adrienne Watt, https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/projectmanagement/chapter/chapter-11-resource-planning-project-management/
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